Method of molding



` Jan. i6, V1923.

L. P. OHLIGER ET AL. METHOD 0F MoLDlNs. FILED APR. 10, 1919.

WITNESS:

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Patented Jan. 16, 1923.

:TED sires LEWIS PrOHLIG'fER AND ALBERT R. `REID, 0F NIAGARA FALLS, NEW YORK, ASSIGNORS T0 U. S. LIGHT 8o HEAT CORPORATION, rOF NIAGARA. FALLS, NEW YQRK, A COR- PORATION QF NEW YORK.

METHOD or MOLDING.

Application filed lApril 10, 1919. Serial o. 288,966.

To all "whom t may concer/n:

Be itlgnown th'atwe, `Lnwis P. OHLreER and ALBERT R. REID, citizens of the United States, residing at- Nia ara Falls, inthe county of Niagara and. tate of New York, have invented new' and useful Improvements in Methods of Molding, of which the following isl a specification. l

The present invention relates tomethods ofmolding. l

More particularly the present invention relates to methodsof` molding metals or alloys which are. readily fusible. Said invention is particularly applicable to molding certain parts -of storage battery cells and will be described in connection with the molding of the strap which is used in a storage battery cell to mechanically and electrically connect plates oflike polarity.

An-object of the present invention is to provide a method of molding which will produce ak uniform product and in which any defects will be readily apparent.

A further object is to provide a method of molding' whereby 'solid members may be readily connected together in an integral structure. l

A further object is toprovide a simple and inexpensive method of connecting storage battery platestogether by fusing the lugs thereof by pouring in Contact with said lugs a metal or alloy at a temperature higher than the melting point of said lugs, whereby said lugs and said molten metal will solidify into an integral structure.

Other objects will be apparent as the description proceeds.

Referring to the drawings y Fig. l is a perspective view representing a plurality of plates of like polarity connected together by means of a strap.

Fig. 2 is a schematic view illustrating in bare outline a mold which may be used for carrying out the present invention.

The plates used in storage batteries coinmonly consist of an alloy of lead and antimony. The amount of antimony present materially affects the melting point of the alloy, an increase of antimony up to a certain percentage having the eii'ect of decreasing the melting point. The fact that the difference in percentage of antimony changes materially the melting point of the alloy, is used in carrying out the present invention.

The mold illustrated in Fig. 2 is indicated by the numeral l. Said mold is provided with a pocket 2 upon its upper side, which pocket 2 has communicating therewithv the vertical hole 3. This hole 3 is shaped to provide a moldv for the post which is commonly provided on storage battery straps. The battery plates are indicated by the numeral 4E, each having a lug 5. The battery plates Llwill be held by any preferred means, so that the lugs 5' project into the pocket 2 on the upper side of the mold l'. A vertically mounted pin 6 is adaptedto have longitudinal movement within the hole 3 and cto operate to close the bottom end of'said hole. Said pin 6 will be operated by the lever 7 which may be biased by gravity to rest against the stop 8. It will be apparent without further description that when molten metal is poured into the pocket 2, it will fill up the hole 3 above the pin 6 and will also fill the pocket 2. As will be eX plained, this molten metal will unite with the lugs and an integral structure will be provided, having the strap 8 and post 9. The lever 7 may be raised, whereby to loosen the molded structure from the mold, whereby the group of plates with the strap and post may be readily removed.

The'molten metal for pouring the strap' 8 and the post 9 will be chosen as an alloy having a higher melting point than the alloy of the lugs 5. As indicated above, this difference in melting point may be readily had by varying the percentage of antimony. The molten alloy at the temperature higher than the melting point of the lugs 5 will fuse said lugs, whereby said lugs will be an integral part of the strap 8 and post 9. The antimony lead will not oXidize readily when heated only a few degrees above its melting point. Therefore, the molten alloy may be kept free from impurities, whereby a perfect union with the plate lugs will result. The present invention is to be distinguished from the process of molding straps to battery lugs by superheating lead to a point above the fusing temperature of the lugs and pouring it around the lugs, thereby fusing said lugs to provide an integral structure. According to the present invenand the danger of lead tion in which no superhea-ting ot the molten alloy Ais required, precautions to prevent oxidation may be minimized, without decreasing the quality of the mold.

` The process described above'has advantages that inspection is easy and certain. An objection to the commonly used puddling process of attaching the strapsy to the plate lugs is that the joints between the lugs and the strap are flooded with molten metal, whereby a superficial `union looks perfect. According to the present invention no such deceiving appearances are produced. Inasmuch as the molding maybe accomplished with the plate lugs extending downwardly, there is no danger of molten metal running along the sides of the plates, as sometimes happens in the puddling process. The straps and posts are perfectly straight, so thereis no breakage oi cell covers or plates caused by hammering the strap or cover in assembling. No skilled labor is required y poisoning is very much lessened. i

It is to be understood that the apparatus illustrated isA merely diagrammatical and is used only for the purpose of simplifying the description. Any other type of apparatus may be used and various 'modifications may be made in the process described, without departing from the invention. It is intended that the patent shall cover all modi- `ications that allwithin the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

What-we claim as new and desire to secure byzLetters Patent of the United States, is-

l. The method of uniting battery plate lugs containing an alloy of lead and a-nothermetal, which consists in causing said lugs Ato become immersed in a molten alloy of. metals the same as the. lugs but having di'erent percentages of constituent metals,

to give a higher melting point thereto.

2. The method o integrally uniting the lugs of battery plates, `which lugs contain an alloy of lead and antimony, which consists in causing said lugs while extending downwardly, to `be immersed in molten metal, said molten metal .comprising an alloy of lead and antimo-ny, and having a lower percentage of antimony than said' lugs.

3. The method. of integrally uniting a member toA a battery element, which element comprises an alloy of lead and antimony, which consists in pouring'molten metalin contact with solid metal, said molten metal having a lower percentage of antimony than said solid metal. i i

4. The `method of integrally uniting a member' to a battery element, which element comprises an alloy of lead andV antimony, which consists in pouring molten metal'in contact with. solid metal, said moltenmetal having a lower percentage of antimony than saidy solid metal, said molten metal being maintained prior to and during pouring at a 4temperature below that at which it oxidiaes readily. l

5.` The method of uniting battery plate lugs containing an alloy of lead and anti* mony, -which consists in pouring fin contact with said lugs a molten alloy having a lower percentage of antimony than said lugs.

6. The method `of uniting battery plate lugs containing an alloy of lead and antimony, which consists in pouring in contact with said lugs a molten alloy' having a lower percentage .of antimonyV than.V said lugs, said molten metal being maintained prior to and during pouring at atemperature below that at which it oxidizes readily.

In witness whereof, we have hereuntol subscribed our names. y

LEWIS 1)..OI-ILIGER.

ALBERT R. REID. 

